Winnie tweets disapproval of film

A screengrab taken from the SABC live feed shows Winnie Madikizela-Mandela during the funeral service of Nelson Mandela in Qunu. File photo: AFP/ SABC

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has disassociated herself from the Hollywood movie made about her life.

Madikizela-Mandela trended on Twitter on Monday after she tweeted: “My story is mine and no one knows it better. In an attempt to ensure that my truth was reflected, I reached out to the film-makers of Winnie Mandela – my advances were rejected,” she said.

The 77-year-old said she imagined that she was not consulted “to allow the creative process to occur organically”.

She said: “I respect all creative efforts to make this story one that would appeal to a global audience as well as yield commercial gains for all those who invested in it.”

She emphasised that she did not support the film as she did with Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

“In principle, I have no ‘problem’ with the Winnie Mandela film while it remains important to me that my life story be portrayed accurately… “Unlike ‘Long Walk To Freedom’, this film is based on an UNAUTHORISED biography whose producers did not deem it fit to consult me or my family.”

The film is based on Winnie Mandela: A Life, a biography by Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob that includes unflattering details of Madikizela-Mandela’s life such as her alleged extramarital affair and her alleged involvement with a gangster soccer team.